Brown's 23-yarder lifts Texans over Titans 34-31

NASHVILLE, Tenn.(AP) -- Don't call the Houston Texans a finesse
team. Not after standing toe to toe with the Tennessee Titans
and pulling a victory out of a slugfest.

Matt Schaub trumped Chris Johnson's career day by throwing for
four touchdowns to go with 357 yards. Kris Brown kicked a
23-yard field goal in the closing minutes, and the Texans ruined
the Titans' home opener with a 34-31 victory Sunday.

Johnson scored three touchdowns and ran for 197 yards.

The Texans spent the past week answering questions about their
toughness after being embarrassed by the New York Jets 24-7 in
their home opener. Coach Gary Kubiak said the win didn't answer
any questions about Houston's toughness, though what he liked
best Sunday was how Houston battled back after trailing 21-7
early in the second quarter.

"It says a lot about what your guys stand for," Kubiak said.

The celebration inside the Texans' locker room easily could be
heard outside before the doors opened. Schaub said there will
always be questions from outsiders.

"This shows what kind of team we are and what we're becoming and
what our mentality is. We had to go out and play four quarters
against a very good football team," Schaub said.

The Texans (1-1) won their first game in the month of September
since Sept. 16, 2007, and just their second ever in Nashville.

"It started off ugly, but we talked last night as a team and we
said all we have was each other," Pro Bowl receiver Andre
Johnson said. "No one was giving us a chance to win this game."

They also sent the Titans (0-2) skidding a different direction
after starting 10-0 last season.

"We've got some work to do," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said.

After Brown kicked the go-ahead field goal with 2:55 left, the
defending AFC South champs had one last chance - until Kerry
Collins dropped the ball with 1:32 left and Jeff Zgonina
recovered for Houston.

That ruined Chris Johnson's career day. He also had 87 yards
receiving.

The game was a shootout with the score tied four different times
- and a slugfest with Titans defensive tackle Jason Jones
ejected for throwing a punch in a sideline scrum in the fourth
quarter. He left to cheers from fans upset with the officiating.

"I was told he went into the bench swinging, and if he does he
should be kicked out and should be fined substantially if he did
it," Fisher said. "I have to find out. I didn't see it."

Houston sacked Collins once and intercepted him once. But
Collins bobbled the ball all by himself trying to help the
Titans answer back. The Texans earned their second straight
victory - and just fourth overall - over the team they replaced
in Houston.

"You hate to let these get away," Collins said. "We all had a
part in this one, including myself. ... There at the end I
needed to make a play, and I didn't do it."

Tennessee kept Steve Slaton from reaching 100 yards on its
defense for a third straight game, holding him to 34 yards on 17
carries. But the Titans couldn't get to Schaub enough, and he
repeatedly found open receivers downfield. Schaub threw two TDs
to Andre Johnson and was 25-of-39 as Houston looked like the
offense that was the NFL's third-best in 2008.

The Titans outgained Houston 449-420 but couldn't move the ball
when it mattered most in the fourth quarter.

They thought they had come up with a big turnover when Jacoby
Jones bobbled a punt off his chest and rookie Jason McCourty
recovered in the air inside the Texans 10 at the end of the
third quarter. But Jones had signaled for a fair catch, and with
the ball bouncing off his chest, officials ruled interference
and gave the ball to Houston.

That brought fans to their feet, furious. Almost unnoticed was
punter Craig Hentrich hurting his left calf on the play.

Tennessee forced Houston to go three-and-out. With Hentrich the
holder on field goals, that might be why the Titans went for it
on fourth-and-6. Collins' pass to Justin Gage was caught out of
bounds.

The Titans had to punt midway through the fourth deep in their
own end, and kicker Rob Bironas came through with a 40-yard
punt.

Schaub responded with a nine-play drive over 63 yards in which
he converted a fourth-and-inches by running himself. Then
Brown's field goal gave Houston a lead it wouldn't lose again.

The Titans threatened to blow Houston out of the stadium early,
jumping ahead 21-7 after Chris Johnson scored 57 yards up the
left sideline untouched on third-and-19. Then Collins tossed a
short pass to Johnson, who lined up out left and was waving for
the ball he was so open. No one came close as he went 69 yards,
and he added a 91-yard TD in the third.

But Houston bounced back with 17 straight points.

Notes: LG Chester Pitts sprained his right knee and will be
evaluated in Houston. ... This was Houston's second-largest
come-from-behind victory. Both have come against Tennessee and
in Nashville. ... The Texans improved to 3-9 in September under
Kubiak. Their last September win had been at Carolina. ... Andre
Johnson had needed only 10 catches to reach 500 for his career.
He finished with 10 for 149 yards. ... Johnson's 91-yard TD run
matched the franchise record set by Sid Blanks on Dec. 13, 1964,
against the Jets.